Plant Details

Staphylea trifolia

American Bladder Nut

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Common names

16 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American Bladder Nut
  • American bladdernut[1][2]
  • bladdernut[2]
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Driebladige pimpernoot
French
  • Staphylier trifolié[2]
  • Staphylier à trois folioles[2]
  • Staphylée à trois feuilles
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美国省沽油[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美國省沽油[2]
Czech
  • klokoč trojlistý[2]
Finnish
  • amerikankotapähkinä[2]
German
  • Amerikanische Pimpernuss[2]
Polish
  • Kłokoczka trójlistkowa[2]
  • Kłokoczka trójlistna[2]
Russian
  • Клекачка трёхлистная[2]
Slovak
  • klokoč trojlistý[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Staphylea trifolia L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • American bladdernut (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 151847; taxon 6ZGB3.
[2] Staphylea trifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • American bladdernut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Клекачка трёхлистная — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • klokoč trojlistý — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • bladdernut — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Kłokoczka trójlistna — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Amerikanische Pimpernuss — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • 美國省沽油 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Staphylier à trois folioles — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Staphylier trifolié — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • amerikankotapähkinä — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Kłokoczka trójlistkowa — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • klokoč trojlistý — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • 美国省沽油 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.

General information

Scientific name: Staphylea trifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Staphylea trifolia L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Staphyleaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Staphylea (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: American Bladder Nut
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.05–4.57 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 3.05–4.57 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Ascending, Dense, Erect, Multi-stemmed

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed, Oil
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Insecticide, Oil

Description

Seeds of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked, similar to pistachios. They can replace walnuts in making chocolate cookies. Additionally, a sweet edible oil can be extracted from these seeds, which can be used for cooking.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 330118; name ID 2582136; Staphylea L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 330134; name ID 2582149; Staphylea trifolia L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Staphylea trifolia

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2479786, ID 6ZGB3: Staphylea trifolia L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Staphylea trifolia — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .